Entrepreneur, Explorer, Angel.
Sometimes all at Once.
21TH March 2023
Uncategorized
To Ship, on or before Death.
I’ve always been fascinated by Steve Jobs’ famous line, “death is the ultimate ship date,” which he uttered during his iconic graduation speech at Stanford University in 2005.
02TH March 2023
Uncategorized
Like Brad Paisley said, “There’s a last time for everything.”
I wrote another eulogy this week, a tradition I don’t enjoy getting any better at. But it made me think about the good fortune I’ve had seeing the world, with so many amazing characters alongside. Cue the James Blunt lyric “you’re getting older, and your journey’s been… etched on your skin” which is… oh so accurate. When I look at the scars and etches, I ask “is that the last time I will…” The list goes on. And the true answer is, I’ll never know what adventures I have left. But post pandemic, I’m finding myself thinking of last times of a less extreme kind, and yearn for them as much or more… When I think about these, I realize it’s really up to the universe whether there will be […]
15TH February 2023
Leadership - Sport - Uncategorized
Could you kneel at the One
I love this shot. It should be a poster in the bedroom wall of every kid who wants to play sports. Jerrick McKinnon of the Kansas City Chiefs made a selfless and strategic decision during the Super Bowl that ultimately helped secure the championship for his team. With just a minute left in the game and the game tied, McKinnon had an opportunity to score a touchdown that would have added seven points, and given him lifetime bragging rights, but would have also left a minute on the clock for the Eagles to tie it back up. Instead of going for the glory, he took a knee at the one yard line, sacrificing his own chance at a touchdown to increase the chances that his teammates would get Super Bowl […]
15TH February 2023
Uncategorized
SuperBowl Class, Eagles Version
I didn’t make it down to Philly for this SuperBowl, but the game yielded two great examples of gentlemen athletes doing the right thing. One was Jerrick McKinnon kneeling at the One. The other was James Bradberry, cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles, who was called for a holding penalty in the final moments of the SuperBowl that gave the Kansas City Chiefs a first down and eventually led to their game-winning field goal. Many fans, announcers and even players were quick to blame the officials for the call, not so the players involved. Bradberry took a different approach. In a refreshing display of honesty and sportsmanship, Bradberry admitted to holding on the play and stated that the officials made the right call. This level of accountability and honor is all […]
01TH February 2023
Sport - Uncategorized
Sports force us to compete as equals.
When you walk on the pitch, it doesn’t matter if you were born into the Parisian aristocracy or a miseria villa in Buenos Aires. Your last name doesn’t matter. The color of your skin doesn’t matter. Your wealth doesn’t matter. For 90 minutes, only one thing matters: can you score more goals than your opponent? I grew up in Pittsburgh, in the time of Deer Hunter and All the Right Moves. The only way out of the coalmine, it seemed, was to play for the Panthers, the Nittany Lions, or god forbid, the Buckeyes. This singleness of purpose, this one escape route, seemed to bring great focus to the field. Seemed alright to me. Because sports have long been hailed as a great leveler, a place where people from all […]
27TH January 2023
Adventure - Family and Friends - Geopolitical - Havana Culture - Miles Spencer Art - Miles Spencer Painting - Miles Spencer Watercolor - Parenting - Uncategorized
Watercolor of TWA Terminal, Miles Spencer v06.22.22
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! My first world travel journey embarked from TWA four decades ago. When I saw my son wheeling down the ramp, I was reminded of this verse my Dad shared with me at the time. I hope you go on an adventure somewhere today. ~ Dr. Seuss Congratulations!Today is your day.You’re off to Great Places!You’re off and away! You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourselfany direction you choose.You’re on your own. And you know what you know.And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go. You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,you’re too […]
01TH January 2023
Creative problem Solving - Fatherhood - Good Story - Parenting - Timeless - Uncategorized
Solomon’s Paradox
Solomon’s Paradox is a phenomenon that has fascinated social scientists for years. It refers to our tendency to be much better at understanding and solving other people’s problems than we are at tackling our own. This paradox is a testament to the complexity of human nature and highlights the strange ways that our minds work. When I use this super-power, it is generally not appreciated. For years, researchers have studied this phenomenon, exploring the reasons why we are better at solving other people’s problems than our own. Some experts believe that this is because we are able to take a more objective view of other people’s problems, while our own problems are clouded by emotions and personal biases. Others believe that it has to do with the fact that we […]
19TH December 2022
Miles Spencer Art - Miles Spencer Painting - Miles Spencer Watercolor - Uncategorized
Miles Spencer Watercolor v07.15.22 Prison
Approaching La Guérite, Cannes Elton john (resident nearby, has a roomy boat) rolled up to this beach club last year and dropped « ColdCold Heart » with Dua Lipa, shocking the lunch patrons. He did it again this summer on « Hold me closer » with Britney Spears. La Guérite means prison, which is fitting as the adjacent prison is where Leo DeCaprio filmed Man in the Iron Mask. That’s all worth a watercolor I think. ~ Note; I began painting watercolors during lockdown, when a special friend gave me a set of Kai paints and I’ve painted nearly every day since. Recently someone else said they liked them because “it was like going to the south of France, for a moment”. We all need a little more of that, […]
10TH November 2022
Miles Spencer Art - Miles Spencer Painting - Miles Spencer Watercolor - Uncategorized
Miles Spencer Watercolor v07.12.22 DeliBo Wall
Wall between the Train and the Lido Mauresque. Good night. ~ Note; I began painting watercolors during lockdown, when a special friend gave me a set of Kai paints. I’ve painted nearly every day since. Recently someone else said they liked them because “it was like going to the south of France, for a moment”. We all need a little more of that, I think. These two people, basically my entire fanclub, encouraged me to share with others. Why not, I thought? If you find the little faults like I do, just squint your eyes or look away.
10TH November 2022
Culture - Miles Spencer Art - Miles Spencer Painting - Miles Spencer Watercolor - Uncategorized
Miles Spencer Watercolor v07.15.22 Paloma Pier
The Pier at Paloma ~ Note; I began painting watercolors during lockdown, when a special friend gave me a set of Kai paints. I’ve painted nearly every day since. Recently someone else said they liked them because “it was like going to the south of France, for a moment”. We all need a little more of that, I think. If you find the little faults like I do, just squint your eyes or look away. Copywrite Miles Spencer, all rights reserved.
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